Low carbohydrate diet

As the name suggests, a low carbohydrate diet is characterized by a decrease in the intake of the required amount of carbohydrates, thus leading the body to lose weight. There are many examples of such diets: the popular low-carb Kremlin diet, the Protasov diet, the protein diet, the high-fat Atkins diet - all are based on low carbohydrate intake, which reduces the releaseinsulin in the blood. and thus promotes the active breakdown of fats. Most likely, it is not worth talking about the fact that the rejection of sweet, starchy, various fruits, sweets and chocolate will promote weight loss and help to effectively get rid of extra pounds. Namely, they are simple, or some other way, fast carbohydrates. It is precisely to reduce their consumption that the diet aims, which will be discussed later.

low carbohydrate foods for weight loss

The essence and benefits of a low-carb diet

To understand the essence of food, it is important to distinguish how simple carbohydrates differ from complex carbohydrates. The point is, "simple" or "fast" carbohydrates have the ability to be absorbed very quickly and turned into body fat. "Slow" carbohydrates, or as they are also called "complex" carbohydrates, tend to be absorbed at a slow rate, charging the body with vigor and energy, whereby a person is not hungry for a long time andis able to lose many more calories than he gained from a serving of food.

Simple carbohydrates include: a variety of pastries, sweets, smoked delicacies, fatty and flour foods. The use of these products is strictly prohibited. Complex carbohydrates include various grains and all vegetables. But a low-carb diet allows for vegetables and only a small amount of grains and some fruit.

Low-carb diets can be of two types: slow and hard. The former are designed for gradual weight loss. At the same time, later, if you adhere to certain norms in the diet, it is quite possible to avoid the repeated set of unnecessary kilograms. Rigid diets are intended primarily for athletes. Often used by bodybuilders for drying, its use by an ordinary person can lead to rapid and uncontrolled weight gain.

The main advantage of a low-carbohydrate diet is that with its help, you can safely lose a decent amount of kilograms irrevocably without suffering from constant hunger. But at the same time, don't expect quick results. This is a long-term, controlled process that will help the body avoid possible unnecessary damage. Such, which is usually accompanied by various "starving" diets. In any case, such a diet can later become a nutritional system, the basis of a daily diet.

The benefits of a low-carb diet are as follows:

  • it does not require fabulous costs, because it uses extremely useful and affordable dishes;
  • in diabetes mellitus, such a diet helps restore the lipid spectrum, normalizes blood sugar, but such a diet can be used only under the supervision of a specialist;
  • the diet is unbalanced, but you can safely adhere to it for a long time, or you can make it a way of life, positioning it as a special nutritional system;
  • it is in great demand by athletes, because it helps burn fat without affecting muscle mass, and it also energizes for a long time.
low carbohydrate diet for diabetes

Contraindications and disadvantages of a low carbohydrate diet

As great as the system is, it has both pros and cons. In addition, a low carbohydrate diet has a number of contraindications:

  • it is not recommended to use this diet during childhood and adolescence, since a lack of carbohydrates in a developing body has serious consequences for health;
  • during pregnancy and lactation, one should also not resort to such a system of weight loss, since for pregnant women the state of the health of the fetus is paramount, therefore, in principle, they should notfollow a diet;
  • if there are any health problems, it is necessary to consult a specialist before a diet.

If you follow the principles of a low-carbohydrate diet, you need to remember that the daily consumption of protein foods can have undesirable consequences on the work of the heart and blood vessels, as well as a heavy load on the kidneys. This is usually due to a lack of potassium in the body, which enters the body in small amounts with such a diet.

Glucose deficiency is undoubtedly one of the downsides of a low carbohydrate diet. This mainly affects mental activity, memory impairment and slower reaction speed are often noted. It is especially difficult for lovers of sweets to come to terms with such a diet. A large percentage of those who drop out are among these people.

Additionally, protein foods are high in cholesterol, which can build up in the body, and the lack of healthy fiber on the menu can cause problems in the intestines. With a high protein content in the diet, the body begins to produce ketones. In turn, they are able to remove fat from the body, but at the same time they can also cling to useful substances necessary for the normal and well-coordinated work of important organs and systems. This can often lead to weakness, dizziness, and episodes of sleeplessness. In this case, you need to consult a doctor, this method of losing weight is probably not for you.

vitamins for a low carbohydrate diet

Since the consumption of certain useful vegetables is limited with a low-carbohydrate diet, the body may lack the required amount of vitamins and minerals. Therefore, the use of additional vitamin complexes at this stage is encouraged.

Authorized products

The basis of the menu of a low-carbohydrate diet should be protein foods with a small addition of fats and carbohydrates. The following products are allowed:

  • lean meat and lean fish;
  • eggs;
  • low-fat fermented milk and dairy products;
  • mushrooms;
  • Seafood;
  • various vegetables, if possible excluding potatoes, legumes, olives and olives;
  • a limited amount of fruit, with the exception of grapes and bananas, since they have a fairly high calorie content;
  • waste;
  • dried fruits and nuts;
  • buckwheat, oat bran or brown rice in limited quantities;
  • various greens.

Prohibited foods

prohibited foods with a low carbohydrate diet

Foods prohibited on a low-carb diet include:

  • vegetables and cereals rich in starch: potatoes, white rice, pasta of all varieties;
  • bread and various products thereof;
  • sweet confectionery;
  • smoked sausages and other delicacies;
  • mayonnaise, ketchup and other fatty sauces;
  • sugar in any form;
  • grapes and bananas, high in fructose;
  • fruit juices and compotes;
  • alcoholic beverages.

Nutritionists vie to insist on banning fatty foods and replacing them with low-fat equivalents, but reviews from many followers and supporters of this weight loss method suggest otherwise. They calmly adhered to this diet and lost weight, eating certain types of fatty sausages and meat. Only you should eat them in moderation, without overdoing it.

Low Carb Diet Guidelines

In order for such a diet to work as expected and not harm the organism, certain rules must be followed:

  • with such a diet it is necessary to consume as much fluid as possible - more than a liter and a half per day;
  • vegetables are recommended for baking, steaming or stewing;
  • with such a system, walking for at least twenty minutes a day or additional physical activity is desirable;
  • in order to correctly compose a daily diet, you need to use a table in which the carbohydrate component of various products is visualized.

Table of carbohydrate content of various products per 100 grams

Some productsPoints
Alcoholic beverages
Drinks with high alcohol content (rum, whiskey, tequila, vodka and others) -
Dry wine $ 1
Beer (about 250 grams) 12 USD
Liqueur (about 60 grams) $ 18
Mushrooms
Fresh mushrooms 0, 1 tsp. u.
Fresh morels 0, 2 tsp. u.
Butterlets, honey mushrooms and raw mushrooms 0. 5 cu
Fresh milk mushrooms, porcini mushrooms and porcini mushrooms $ 1
Raw chanterelles, porcini mushrooms and russula 1. 5 USD
Dried porcini mushrooms $ 7. 5
Dried porcini mushrooms 13 $
Dried porcini mushrooms $ 14
Canned food
Any fish -
Beet caviar $ 2
Canned beans $ 2. 5
Pickled cucumbers $ 3
Tomatoes and seaweed $ 4
Olives, eggplant caviar $ 5
Canned green peas 6. 5 cu
Zucchini caviar $ 8. 5
Pepper with vegetables 11 $
Sweet canned corn $ 14. 5
Tomato paste $ 19
Cereals
Beans and other legumes $ 46
groats $ 49
Hercules, split peas $ 50
Buckwheat $ 62
Pearl barley and millet $ 66
Barley $ 67
White rice $ 71
Dairy products
Vegetable oil -
Low-fat cottage cheese, margarine and various types of cheese $ 1
Butter $ 1. 3
Low-fat types of cottage cheese $ 1. 8
Mayonnaise of any fat content $ 2. 6
High fat cottage cheese $ 2. 8
Sour cream of any fat content $ 3
Sour milk or kefir $ 3. 2
Sugar Free Yogurt 3. 5 USD
Cream of any fat content $ 4
Pasteurized and cooked milk $ 4. 77
Yoghurt with sugar content $ 8. 5
Sweet curd mass $ 15
Sweet curd in icing 32 USD
Meat products, poultry
Different types of meat (lamb, beef, pork, veal), poultry, rabbit, beef heart and liver, lard, loin and tongue, various steak and sausages, pork thighs -
Chicken eggs 0. 5 cu
Chicken liver 1. 5 USD
Beef sausages, boiled sausages and milk sausages 1. 5 USD
Pork sausages $ 2
Breaded meat $ 5
Meat paste 6 USD
Beverages
Coffee, tea without sugar, mineral water -
Tomato juice 3. 5 USD
Carrot juice, xylitol compote 6 USD
Apple juice $ 7. 5
Grapefruit juice $ 8
Mandarin juice $ 9
Plum juice with pulp 11 $
cherry juice $ 11. 5
Orange juice 12 USD
Grape, pomegranate and apricot juice $ 14
Plum juice without pulp 16 $
Pear compote $ 18
Apple and grape compote $ 19
Apricot compote $ 21
Cherry compote $ 24
Vegetables, herbs
Daikon $ 1
Celery, lettuce, spinach $ 2
Green beans, fresh cucumber, asparagus, sorrel $ 3
Green onions 3. 5 USD
Pumpkin, zucchini, tomatoes, radish $ 4
Eggplant, red cabbage, white cabbage and cauliflower, peppers, turnips, garlic $ 5
Green and red peppers $ 5
Celeriac, wild garlic 6 USD
leek, radish 6. 5 cu
Rutabaga, carrots $ 7
Fresh horseradish $ 7. 5
Beans, kohlrabi, parsley $ 8
Watermelon, melon, onion, beet $ 9
Parsley root $ 10. 5
Fresh green peas 12 USD
Raw potatoes 16 $
Nuts
Pine nuts $ 10
Almond nuts 11 $
Pumpkin nuts and seeds 12 USD
Peanuts, hazelnuts, pistachios $ 15
Sun-flower seeds $ 18
Coconut and sesame seeds $ 20
Cashew nut 25 $
Condiments and spices
Red wine vinegar (tablespoon) -
Spicy herbs (tablespoon) 0, 1 tsp. u.
Capers and horseradish (tablespoon) $ 0. 4
Cinnamon and hot pepper (teaspoon) 0. 5 cu
Mustard, tartare (tablespoon) 0. 5 cu
Ginger (tablespoon) 0, 8 c. u.
Apple cider vinegar and soy sauce (tablespoon) $ 1
White wine vinegar (tablespoon) 1. 5 USD
Barbecue sauce (tablespoon) $ 1. 8
Vinegar (tablespoon) $ 2. 3
Tomato sauce (50 grams) 3. 5 USD
Ketchup (tablespoon) $ 4
Cranberry sauce (tablespoon) 6. 5 cu
Seafood, fish
Frozen, fresh, boiled and smoked fish, shrimps, red and black caviar -
Lobster and fresh seaweed $ 1
Fresh crabs $ 2
Fresh squid $ 4
Fresh mussels $ 5
Fish in tomato sauce 6 USD
Fresh oysters $ 7
Breaded fish 12 USD
Candies
Jam for diabetics $ 3
Jam for diabetics $ 9
Chocolate ice cream $ 20
Ice cream $ 22
Frozen ice 25 $
Almond cake $ 45
Chocolate with nuts $ 48
Sponge cake and dark chocolate $ 50
Chocolate candies $ 51
Milk and white chocolate $ 54
Halva $ 55
Condensed milk $ 56
Cream cake $ 62
Plain waffles and apple jam $ 65
Apple jam $ 66
Jam, jam $ 68
Lollipop $ 70
Strawberry and raspberry jam $ 71
Honey butter cookies $ 75
Jam $ 76
Gingerbread with cream $ 77
Pastila and fruit waffles $ 80
Fondant (candy) 83 $
Stuffed caramel $ 92
Sugar of different types $ 99
Soups
Chicken or meat broth -
Goulash soup and green cabbage soup 12 USD
Mushroom soup $ 15
Vegetable soup 16 $
Tomato soup $ 17
Pea soup $ 20
Fruits
Lemons $ 3
Cherry plum and grapefruit 6. 5 cu
Quince, orange and mandarins $ 8
Rowan tree $ 8. 5
Dogwood and apricots $ 9
Pear, peach, plum and apple $ 9. 5
Kiwi and cherries $ 10
Cherries $ 10. 5
Pomegranate, aronia, fig 11 $
Pineapple $ 11. 5
Persimmons and nectarines 13 $
Bananas $ 21
Dried apples $ 45
Dried pears $ 49
Dried apricots $ 53
Dried apricots $ 55
Prunes $ 58
Grape $ 66
Dates $ 68
Bread
Soy flour 16 $
Rye $ 34
Diabetic $ 38
Borodinsky 40 $
Cereal bread and rye tortillas $ 43
Corn $ 50
Riga and bun $ 51
Armenian Lavash $ 56
Donut $ 58
Seeded rye flour $ 64
Creamy rusks $ 66
Premium wheat flour $ 67
Sushi, egg noodles and premium wheat flour $ 68
Sweet straws and pasta $ 69
Corn flour $ 70
Mashed potatoes $ 79
Cornstarch $ 80
Berries
Cloudberry 6 USD
Strawberry 6. 5 cu
Blueberry $ 7
Black and red currants $ 7. 5
Lingonberry, raspberry, blueberry and white currant $ 8
Gooseberry $ 9
Fresh rosehip fruits $ 10
Grape $ 15
Dried rosehip $ 21. 5

Based on the table, you can create a personal menu, from which you can lose up to 9 kilograms in a week.

The principle of construction is based on limiting the use of foods containing a large amount of carbohydrates:

  • to lose weight - you need to gain up to 40 conventional units per day;
  • for weight stabilization - no more than 60 conventional units;
  • to increase the kilogram - 60 conventional units and more.

Different types of menus for the week on a low-carb diet

An example menu for a week can be presented as follows:

  • breakfast - steamed omelet, green tea or herbal tea;
  • second breakfast - low-fat cottage cheese;
  • lunch - mushroom soup, boiled chicken;
  • dinner - baked fish.

Slimming menu for the week

To lose around 10 extra pounds in a week, you can try this version of the weekly menu:

  • breakfast - cottage cheese with dried fruits;
  • lunch - cabbage soup;
  • dinner - boiled veal.

Weekly menu for diabetes mellitus

A separate medical menu can be used for diabetes mellitus:

  • breakfast - low-fat cottage cheese, tea and 2 hard-boiled eggs;
  • second breakfast - 250 grams of yogurt;
  • lunch - bean soup;
  • afternoon tea - orange;
  • dinner - baked fish with vegetables.

Diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates

This diet was invented by Dr. Atkins. It takes place in four phases:

  • the first phase - duration 2 weeks, carbohydrate restriction of about 20 grams, proteins are allowed in any quantity;
  • the second phase - lasts several months, during which it is necessary to gradually increase the amount of carbohydrates consumed in food;
  • the third phase - in order to maintain the weight in the current state, it is recommended to increase the level of available carbohydrates to 10 grams per day;
  • fourth phase - to consolidate the result, you need to consume the same amount of carbohydrates as in the third phase.

Sample menu for athletes

low carb diet for athletes

To effectively burn fat without losing muscle mass, it is recommended to use approximately the following menu for a week:

  • breakfast - tea, oatmeal with milk;
  • second breakfast - 200 grams of low-fat cottage cheese;
  • lunch - vegetable soup, seafood salad, cooked vegetables;
  • afternoon tea - curd pudding;
  • dinner - baked meat, steamed vegetables, kefir.

Low carb diet for vegetarians

There is a separate diet for people who do not use meat in their diet. There are a few rules for them:

  • the calculation of the carbohydrates consumed must be done as follows: 5 grams of carbohydrates per 10 kilograms of weight;
  • meat and fish products should be replaced by their soy, bean and grain counterparts.

Protein diet

Such a menu in their diet can be used both by athletes during the drying period, and by ordinary people who prefer protein foods:

  • breakfast - tea and 100 grams of fat-free cottage cheese;
  • second breakfast - zhmenya nuts;
  • lunch - boiled chicken with cooked vegetables;
  • afternoon tea - kefir or yogurt;
  • dinner - fish cooked in a double boiler.

Low Carb Diet Recipes

Shrimp soup

shrimp soup with a low carbohydrate diet

To make the soup you will need:

  • shrimp - 1 kg;
  • celery;
  • tomato - 1 piece;
  • onion - 1 piece;
  • curry;
  • lemon juice.

Peel the shrimps and rinse them well, finely chop the vegetables and herbs. Pour water over the ingredients, add a little curry, sprinkle with lemon juice and place on the stove.

Beef Stew with Spinach

To prepare such a dish, you can use the following recipe:

  • beef - 1 kg;
  • spinach - 400 grams;
  • onion - 1 piece;
  • celery root - 200 grams;
  • garlic - 1 clove;
  • tomatoes - 2 pcs. ;
  • olive oil;
  • Caraway;
  • ginger powder;
  • beef broth - 250 grams.

Fry all seasonings in oil, gradually add chopped onions and tomatoes to it. Fry a little, add the beef broth and the rest of the ingredients. It is best to cut the beef into strips so that it takes less time to cook. Cover the dish and simmer for about 40 minutes.

conclusions

Reviews of the low-carb diet are mixed, with many supporters and opponents. However, these and those note its effectiveness. Such a diet is well suited for those who do not like exhausting fasting, since it allows eating a lot of food. Its benefits include its successful use in diabetes mellitus. As a remedy, it has proven itself. Plus, it's affordable and won't hit the family budget hard. In a nutshell, if you use such a system specifically for weight loss, it will undoubtedly lead to amazing results. However, it should be remembered that such a diet, although it is not a mono-diet, but its indicators are unbalanced, therefore, before embarking on such a fast, it is imperativeto consult a specialist, especially if there are chronic diseases. in history.